On January 26^th, the University’s Community Service Center (CSC), in cooperation with the Directorate of Education in the Governorate of Nablus, started a new social program under the title “Yes to Violence-Free Schools” which aims to secure a more stable and proper environment for Palestinian children.

The program was executed at Tareq Bin Ziyad Boys School in Nablus during the first semester and aimed to create an environment that is characterized by mutual understanding and cooperation between the student and the teacher. Securing adequate learning environment can be achieved through reinforcing students’ positive behavior and activating the role of the teacher.

The issue of violence against children in Palestine always had negative impacts on children’s personalities which in turn influenced the way they interacted with their families, other people and the society as a whole.

The new program included a number of orientation meetings for the fourth, fifth and sixth grade students at the School; the meetings aimed to promote dialogue and understanding in school context. A number of visits were made to different places in Nablus upon the students’ choice. Sixth grade students visited the Faculty of Physical Education at the New Campus, while the fourth and fifth grade students visited the Municipality football field in the city.

On the other hand, the teaching staff at Tareq Bin Ziyad School visited Sebastia, a village nearly 15 km northwest of Nablus.

The program also featured a meeting with Mr. Bilal Salameh, Director of the CSC, who spoke about the issue of violence, its causes, and the importance of cooperation between the concerned bodies to create a school environment that enables the students to learn in a context of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation. The classroom environment must be that in which the teacher assumes the role of a facilitator and advisor away from violence against students.

At the end of the program, the teachers and the students thanked the CSC and the Directorate of Education for their interest in supporting the educational process in Palestine and their concern with the development of children’s learning and education environment.

Further meetings will be organized during the second semester with the students’ families in order to involve all concerned bodies in the program to achieve collective results.